Police: Cal Ripken Jr.'s mother safe after abduction

An armed man bound and abducted the mother of famed Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. and drove her car miles away from home, police said.

Violet Ripken, 74, of Aberdeen, Md., was taken by a man between 7 and 8 a.m. Tuesday after he pulled out a handgun and forced her into her own car, police said.

"After he fled the area, we believe he drove throughout central Maryland, and at this time, we are not sure what locations he was at, what time he was driving, in what counties. That is still under investigation," Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Trabert said during a Wednesday afternoon news conference. "He (the kidnapper) was driving her vehicle."

The Aberdeen Police Department said it received a call from Baltimore County police at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Baltimore County police said they had received a call about a suspicious vehicle in the area of Ebenezer Road that may have something to do with the case.

Multiple sources told WBAL-TV and sister station 1090 AM WBAL radio that the man tied up Vi Ripken in the back seat of her car and drove to Baltimore County. The sources said another person spotted Vi Ripken. The suspect told the witness that his mom was ill and that he was taking her to a hospital, but the witness didn't buy the story and called police, sources said.

Trabert said the motive was not immediately clear.

"We don't know what, if any, relationship there was between the perpetrator and the Ripken family," Trabert said. "At this time, I can say we know of no ransom demand."

"It's very upsetting because she's such a wonderful person and she does a lot for the community," said Gus Kowalewski, Vi Ripken's close friend and neighbor since 1975.

Vi Ripken said her abductor treated her well, even buying her cigarettes and food, but he didn't give any indication that he knew she was Cal Ripken's mother, Kowalewski said.

"She left me with the impression that he didn't know who the (Aberdeen) Ironbirds were and didn't maybe know who she was," Kowalewski said.

Another neighbor, Erik Snyder, found Vi Ripken at about 6:15 a.m. Wednesday, close to her home. Snyder, driving home from work, saw Vi Ripken waving a white towel out of her car window.

"She seemed distraught," Snyder said. "She said that somebody had just left her there and that her feet were bound, and she was stuck in the back of the car."

Snyder told Vi Ripken to wait and he called police, who then freed her. Paramedics assessed Vi Ripken and determined she was not injured. She returned home to rest with family members, police said.

Kowalewski said Vi Ripken kept a regular routine.

"She goes to McDonald's every morning around 7:15, and that's when he accosted her in the garage," Kowalewski said. "She said that she went to get in her car in the garage, and the next thing you know, the guy had a gun and a mask on."

Trabert said calls are being investigated and callers are being interviewed.

"Since we put the information out, we've got several calls throughout the area," Trabert said. "We are looking at every witness and every clue."

"We believe the male is still armed with a handgun and should be considered dangerous," Trabert said.

Police are looking for a white man in his late 30s to early 40s, with a tall, thin build. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt, camouflaged pants and eyeglasses.

The Ripken family released a statement shortly after noon, saying, "This has been a very trying time for our family, but we are grateful and relieved that mom is back with us, safe and healthy. We want to thank everyone for their tremendous support, especially all of the law enforcement agencies that worked so hard and quickly. This is an ongoing investigation, so we hope everyone understands that we cannot comment further at this time. Thank you."

The FBI, the Harford County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police and Baltimore County police are assisting in the investigation.

"We all worked together and collaborated in this investigation," Trabert said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Criminal Investigation Section of the Aberdeen Police Department at 410-272-2121.

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